University of Kansas, Fall 2004
Philosophy 160: Introduction to Ethics
Ben Eggleston—eggleston@ku.edu

Rachels’s method in chapter 1

1.    Rachels's strategy in the first chapter most resembles

  1. looking at lots of different varieties of dog in order to see how widely dogs can very in terms of height, weight, speed, temperament, etc.
  2. giving a physical exam to a randomly selected Kansas City Chiefs player in order to estimate the fitness level of NFL players in general
  3. looking at a Corvette, a Ford Explorer, a Toyota Camry, and a pick-up truck in order to see what features, if any, are common to just about all automobiles
  4. looking at what NASA scientists say about the value of space exploration in order to arrive at an idea of what just about everyone agrees on in regard to the value of space exploration

True or false?

statement T or F?
2 When Rachels gives his account of the “minimum conception of morality,” he acknowledges that he‘s saying something pretty controversial, like most things in philosophy.  
3 People who endorse Rachels’s account of the “minimum conception of morality” will typically agree on what should be done in cases such as those discussed in this chapter.  
4 People who endorse Rachels’s account of the “minimum conception of morality” may well disagree on what it means to guide one’s conduct by reason, or to give equal weight to everyone’s interests.  
5 Rachels could have used non-medical examples, indeed a whole different set of examples, to come up with his “minimum conception of morality.”